GUITAR HERO the Story of KU’S RICK VITO
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KUTZTOWN UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE Winter 2013 GUITAR HERO The story of KU’s RICK VITO. page 9 2013 HOMECOMING LIVE FROM THE MIDDLE EAST SCHAEFFER DEDICATION COCA-COLA COLLECTORS THE END OF AN ERA Kutztown field hockey showed promise in its first year under for 15 years, Wesner helped, in part, to bring women’s ath- head coach Marci Scheuing this fall, but the team still felt the letics to its current standard of success. In addition, while presence of its legendary predecessor, Betty Wesner. When serving on field hockey committees in the Pa. State Athletic Scheuing took the reins, she maintained contact with the KU Conference (PSAC) and National Field Hockey Coaches coach of 33 years. After all, she might not be here in Kutztown Association (NFHCA), Wesner played a pivotal role in the without the contributions of Wesner. development of Division II field hockey as a whole. “That’s what drew me here,” Scheuing said. “I knew what Still, most importantly, her impact was felt by all of an amazing job she did after playing against her team for four her players. As a coach, her interactions with student- years (at Mansfield). You want to follow somebody like Betty athletes helped to build young women and create lasting with a program that’s been taken care of for so many years relationships. by a great coach.” “I think the thing I miss most after retirement is the In her 33 seasons, Wesner finished with a 344-257-15 record. interaction with the student-athletes,” Wesner said. This allowed her to retire as fourth all-time in NCAA Division II Fittingly, the program paid honor to Wesner and her family wins, while her .571 winning percentage ranked seventh in by hosting the Joshua W. Wesner Tournament in September Division II at the time of retirement. and held a ceremony for their longtime head coach. However, along the way, Wesner did much more than “I feel blessed that the team feels the way they do just lead the field hockey program. Serving in the uni- about me, my son, my family and the coaching staff,” versity’s athletic department as a compliance officer Wesner said. CONTENTS Winter 2013 FEATURES LIKE A ROCK 9 From humble beginnings in Kutztown to sharing the stage with legends, Rick Vito follows his dream. IN THE LINE OF FIRE 12 Miriam Amie ’76 has spent three decades in the middle east. 12 24 DEPARTMENTS 4 NEWS AND NOTES 14 BACK TO CLASS WITH ... Bill Bateman & Randy Schaeffer ’72 16 KU FOUNDATION UPDATE 19 CLASSNOTES 20 Dr. Ronald Horvath: A Leader in Education 22 An Artist’s Legacy ON THE COVER 24 Preserving Pennsylvania’s Rick Vito warms up in Schaeffer Auditorium German Heritage COVER PHOTOGRAPH BY HUB WILLSON ’71, CLASSMATE OF RICK VITO WHO ALSO PERFORMED Opposite page: Betty Wesner is saluted by WITH HIM IN THE 70s. the 2013 KU field hockey team before its “Pink Out” for breast cancer awareness game Homecoming weekend. 14 KUTZTOWN UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE PRESIDENT OF KUTZTOWN UNIVERSITY: DIRECTOR OF UNIVERSITY MARKETING: Tower magazine, issued December 2013, is published by Kutztown University, a F. Javier Cevallos Jennifer Umberger member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. The Tower is published two times a year and is free to KU alumni and friends of the university. ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT OF ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, UNIVERSITY MARKETING/ COMMUNICATIONS, MARKETING & DESIGN & PRINT MEDIA: Address correspondence to: Kutztown University, Office of University Relations, EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: Camille DeMarco ’81, M ’01 P.O. Box 730, Kutztown, PA 19530 or email [email protected]. Telephone: 610-683-4114 John Green DESIGN: DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT: Gipson Studio, LLC — Linda Gipson Submissions for Classnotes may be sent to: [email protected]. Alex Ogeka CONTRIBUTORS: DIRECTOR OF UNIVERSITY RELATIONS: Adam Dobrowolski M ’14, Athletics Broadcasting Graduate Assistant Matt Santos M ’03 Bryan Salvadore ’10, M ’12, Sports Information Director Esther Shanahan M ’16, University Relations Editorial Graduate Assistant ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF UNIVERSITY RELATIONS/ Photographers – Susan Angstadt; Doug Benedict; Jason Cline ’14; TOWER EDITOR: Adam Fegely ’16; Dan Z. Johnson; John Secoges; Jeff Unger; and Hub Willson ’71 PHOTO BY HUB WILLSON PHOTO ’71 David Johnson NEWS AND NOTES New Open Spaces Beautify Campus College Hill Memorial Grove, university’s creation of a formerly known as Bell Plaza, was 9/11 memorial new heating dedicated May 9 in memory of and a celebra- plant on the those students, faculty and staff tion of the outskirts of who have died. The concept of anniversary of campus. The the grove came from students who Dr. Martin old plant and wanted a place to hold memorial Luther King garages were ceremonies and to honor classmates Jr.’s epic “I demolished and friends. have a dream” and construc- The area, which is located speech. tion on the between Stratton Administration Golden Bear new plaza Center and Old Main, is shaded Plaza was dedicated Oct. 5 as part took place over the past year. by large oak trees and appears much of Family Day. It sits on the former Some of the highlights include like it did 100 years ago. The bell site of the vehicle fleet garages lighted outdoor basketball courts in the center of the grove was dedi- and the coal-fired power plant, and a refurbished barbeque pit, cated by the class of 1910. It rang which was erected early in which was originally located behind in the Old Main clock tower for the 20th century. At that time the Risley Hall. The barbecue pit many years before it was replaced area was the southernmost part of (pictured above) was a gift to the with an electronic system. campus. As the college expanded university from the Class of ’44 The name “College Hill” was over the next 80 years, the plant and was used for tailgates for first used in the late 1920s as a became closer to the center of football games into the early ’90s. postal address and as a common South Campus. The bronze golden bear statue, term to identify the campus. Prior The reality of transforming formerly located in South Dining to 1928, when KU was known as this area into an open plaza began Hall, stands proudly at the plaza’s Keystone State Normal School, the to take shape in 2006, with the center. area was known as “Normal Hill.” College Hill Memorial Grove has already been the scene of the Right: Guido Pichini ’74, chair of the PASSHE Board of Governors and KU trustee, joins Briana Berry ’15, Residence Hall Association president; Avalanche; Dr. F. Javier Cevallos, president, Kutztown University; and Nick Imbesi ’14, Student Government Board president, at the dedication of Golden Bear Plaza. 4 TOWER | Winter 2013 Pulitzer Prize-Winning Poet Sharon Olds Visits KU Internationally renowned poet Sharon Olds vis- ited Kutztown University and read from her work on Oct. 24. Olds also held a master class with students to discuss the current state of liter- ature in America. Olds is the author of eight volumes of poetry, Renowned Pianist Sandra Rivers most recently “Stag’s Leap,” for which she Holds Residency at KU won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry and Steinway artist Sandra Rivers held a three-day residency at Kutztown became the first University in early November. Her visit included a lecture on racism American to win and sexism in classical music, a piano master class, and a special con- Britain’s T.S. Eliot cert with the Kutztown University Orchestra, under the direction of Prize for Poetry. Dr. Timothy Schwarz. Often credited as One of the first African-American students at the Juilliard School of one of contemporary Music, Rivers taught in the New York City public school system for three poetry’s leading years. During this time she was held at gunpoint twice and was put voices, Olds was the under “protection” by a gang who escorted her from the subway to New York State poet laureate from 1998 to the school. While teaching, she won Best Collaborative Artist at 2000 and teaches creative writing at New York the Tchaikovsky Competition, making her one of the most sought University, where she holds the Erich Maria after pianists of her generation. Remarque professorship. Golden Bear Softball Plays for National Title Riding an unprecedented 14-game winning streak, the Golden Bears softball team made a postseason run all the way to the Division II National Championship Game last spring. Led by seven All-PSAC East players, including divisional athlete of the year Brianna Knipe ’14, the Golden Bears began their streak with a pair of wins to close out the regular season. The run included the school’s first ever PSAC championship under head coach Judy Lawes and ended with an extra-inning loss in the national championship. KU now owns back-to-back appearances in the Division II National Softball Championships. Winter 2013 | TOWER 5 NEWS AND NOTES A Renaissance at the Heart of KU Cutting the ribbon are, L to R: James C. Zellner ’86, president of the KU Foundation Board of Directors; John (Jack) Wabby ’69, KU trustee; L. Charles Marcon; State Senator Judy Schwank; Martha Hafer ’02, honorary co-chair, Setting the Stage, the Campaign for Kutztown University; Dr. William J. Mowder, dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts; and William F. Ribble ’73, co-chair, Setting the Stage, the Campaign for Kutztown University, and member of the KU Foundation Board of Directors. 6 TOWER | Winter 2013 Dedicating the new Sadie Snyder Hippenstiel & Elizabeth Hippenstiel Marcon Platz are, L to R: Ruth Marcon; L. Charles Marcon; Tracey Thompson, executive director, KU Foundation & Alumni Engagement; and Dr.